Half of all employees are frustrated that they have “nowhere to go” in their current job because there are so few opportunities for advancement.

A survey of 2,000 employed adults showed that nearly a fifth (19%) said their jobs offered no training to help them leave their current position.

As a result, workers are lobbying their bosses for more training and to attend evening classes at their own expense.

But 30% actively retain the “secret skills” that are part of the job description of their current job.

And more than half (53%) are now inclined to seek out new opportunities that are more suited to their skills, since returning to the office after giving birth.



Nearly one in five say their company doesn't offer training to help them quit their current job.

Professor Adam Boddison, managing director of APM, the Association for Project Management, which led the research as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, said: “This research has given us a lot of insight into the constraints felt by workers. in their work.

“However, it’s nice to see that many felt compelled to look further ahead, with the aim of making the most of their skills in other roles.

“Many people clearly feel they are not being used to their full potential and would like the opportunity to maximize their communication, organization, planning and project management skills.”

The study also found that more than two-thirds (67%) of men raised issues with management about their current job, and seven out of ten managed to get a promotion by applying for one.

By comparison, only 50% of women were promoted after taking charge of running for leadership.

Of all the adults surveyed, 21% feel “uncomfortable” when asking for a promotion or a pay raise and 11% think their bosses are unapproachable about it.

But one in ten people who have taken evening classes alone already feel very confident about quitting their current job and applying for another, better-paying position.

Up to four in ten believe they have leadership skills hidden beneath the surface of what they present in the workplace.



Professor Adam Boddison said yes

And 38% believe they are proficient in project management and time management, which they keep in their current role.

It also found that almost half (46%) feel less confident in seeking training to expand their skills if it is not offered by their superiors.

But that feeling diminishes with age, with 22% of 24-34-year-olds feeling this way, compared to only 10% of 55-64-year-olds.

More workers, surveyed via OnePoll, also said they would rather stay in their current company and grow, rather than change careers altogether (38% vs 22%).

Professor Boddison added: “It may be easier to try to stay within your company and scale if that network is available.

“But our research revealed that for many they have encountered a problem as far as their current business can take them.

“There is a risk that people end up becoming indispensable to their service, so management is reluctant to let them go on and spread their wings.

“Managers who understand that what’s best for the employee as a whole is what’s best for the company are what you expect to find in the workplace.”